Cousin, an island of the Seychelles, close to Praslin and its sister island Cousine
Good to know about Cousin Island
Cousin Island is one of the world's first complete island and marine reserves. It lies 2 km off the coast of Praslin, the second largest island in the Seychelles. This granitic island and the sea around it were declared a nature reserve in 1968 by the International Council for Bird Preservation (ICBP, today BirdLife International), in order to protect the last tiny population of an almost extinct endemic bird, the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis). In the mid-1970s the Seychelles government also declared the whole island, including 400 metres of water around it, a "Special Reserve" (1974 or 1975, depending on the source). Since 1998 the island has been managed by Nature Seychelles.
When the ICBP took over the island, most of the native habitat had largely been turned into a coconut and cinnamon plantation. The remaining warblers were clinging on in a mangrove swamp, which was far from ideal habitat for the species.
Saving the Seychelles warbler
In 1959 the population of the Seychelles warbler, an endemic bird, was estimated at just 26 individuals, all of them confined to Cousin.
An intensive conservation programme was soon under way: the coconut palms were cut back so that the native Pisonia grandis forest, which the warbler prefers, could grow again. By 1982 the population had reached about 320 adult birds, the maximum Cousin could support. From here the warbler was reintroduced to other islands of the Seychelles to boost its numbers. The bird now lives on four other islands in the Seychelles and numbers over 3,000 individuals. The IUCN now classes the species only as Near Threatened. It is regarded as one of the greatest conservation success stories of recent decades.
Besides the warbler, Cousin is home to four other endemic land birds of the Seychelles: the Seychelles magpie robin, the Seychelles sunbird, the Seychelles fody and the Seychelles blue pigeon. Together that makes five of the archipelago's eleven endemic land bird species. Add to that seabird colonies, plenty of lizards and hermit crabs.
Cousin is also one of the most important nesting sites of the hawksbill turtle in the western Indian Ocean. The turtles lay their eggs here during the day. The nesting season runs from October to March, with the busiest period from November to January. According to the reserve's management, the nesting population has grown roughly eightfold since the island became a reserve.
Getting there and visiting
By boat from Praslin
You cannot simply go to the island under your own steam. Visitors are brought over from Praslin by boat operators and transferred to the reserve's small boats off the island. This is to stop rats, insects or other pests from reaching the shore unnoticed. You land on the beach, as there is no jetty, so expect to get your feet wet.
Departure is usually around 9:30 am, for example from Grand Anse beach, Baie Sainte Anne or Anse Volbert. The return trip starts around 12 noon. Many hotels on Praslin arrange the tour and will pick you up. If you make your own way to the meeting point, you will find notes on routes and timetables under Travelling by bus in the Seychelles. You can also find offers under Boat trips in the Seychelles.
| Option (as of November 2026) | Duration | What happens | Price excluding landing fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-day tour, Cousin only | approx. 3 hours | Shared crossing, guided walk with the rangers | depends on the operator, usually per person |
| Private boat, Cousin only | approx. 3 hours | Only the crossing is private, you will meet other groups on the island | approx. €200 per boat (one operator) |
| Full-day tour: Cousin, Curieuse, St. Pierre | approx. 7 to 8 hours | Cousin in the morning, then Curieuse with lunch, snorkelling at St. Pierre | from about US$150 to 170 per person |
From Mahé and La Digue
From Mahé or La Digue you first travel to Praslin, either by ferry or on a domestic flight. Because of the fixed morning times and the weekend closure, it is worth planning at least one night on Praslin. Arriving by ferry the same morning does not usually work.
On the island: beach, birds and turtles
Cousin has sandy beaches, granite rocks, mangroves and Pisonia woodland. The walk leads through these habitats under the guidance of a ranger, in English or French. Swimming, sunbathing and snorkelling are not part of the visit. For beach days and snorkelling spots, you will find suggestions under Dream beaches and Diving & snorkelling.
Depending on the season, you can see seabirds on their nests, the five endemic land birds, lizards and hermit crabs along the path. Between November and January you have a good chance of watching a hawksbill turtle lay her eggs. Keep your distance. Animals and nests are not touched, nothing is fed and nothing is taken away. You can read more about the reserve and its plant life under Cousin Island Special Reserve and Flora and fauna of the Seychelles. Older guidebooks name April to September as the time with particularly large numbers of birds. Climate and seasons are explained in When is the best time to travel?
From Praslin you can also easily reach the neighbouring islands of Curieuse and St. Pierre. The bird island of Aride lies a little further away.
Accommodation and food
Visitors cannot stay overnight on Cousin. The only people living on the island are the staff of Nature Seychelles. There is no food or drink service in the reserve, so bring your own drinking water. Your accommodation will be on Praslin: accommodation on Praslin. For places to eat, see the page restaurants on Praslin, and you will find more suggestions under restaurant recommendations.
Do not confuse Cousin with Cousine. That is a separate private island with a few villas, and it is not open to ordinary day visitors.
Practical tips
Cash machines, banks and shops are on Praslin, not on Cousin. You will find notes on this under money and banks. For medical help, Praslin is where you need to go. The addresses are listed under hospital, clinics and emergency numbers. If the sea is rough or the weather is bad, the operator may cancel the trip. It is therefore wise to keep a second morning free as a reserve.
Day trip or overnight stay
Cousin is a morning excursion. If you would like to see more, book the full-day tour with Curieuse and St. Pierre, which combines birds, giant tortoises and snorkelling in a single day. If you prefer some time to yourself, book only the half-day tour and spend the afternoon on a beach on Praslin. There is no overnight stay on Cousin itself. If you would like to know more about island life, the overview Islands of the Seychelles will help.
